Chapter 182

Chapter 182: The Arrival of Dugu Yi

The battle raged fiercely in front of the Purple Fortress. Hongmo Zhengfang and Qian Qiu Yue were on the brink of death, having nearly exhausted all their trump cards, and their elemental energy was extremely depleted. Even holding Miao Jade could not restore them.

“Ahhhh! Zheng Lin, you are pushing me too far!” Hongmo Zhengfang glared, filled with boundless hatred, wishing he could rush over and crush Hongmo Zheng Lin’s skull.

At this moment, the enormous dragon-horned turtle dragged the Black Fortress closer to the stone bridge, and a voice came from within: “It’s been a few hours! How can the practitioners from the Li Family be so useless? How can I bring you into the sect like this?”

“My lord, there is a Remnant Soul of the All-Manifestation Realm.”

“Boom…” The Li Family practitioner who tried to defend himself was struck by a light pillar, instantly sending him flying, leaving him bloodied and barely alive.

“We in the demonic sect only care about results, not the process,” Hongmo Zheng Lin sneered. “You said it yourself; it’s a remnant soul. No matter how powerful it is, can it compare to a true All-Manifestation Realm practitioner? I know the Li Family has a backup plan; seize these two immediately!”

“Yes!” The Li Family practitioners had no choice; they dared not defy when under the eaves. To smoothly enter the Hongmo Sect, they had to flatter this lord.

Hongmo Zhengfang prepared to use the Blood Demon Soul Tower for one last gamble. At that moment, a wild aura surged forth, and someone sneered: “What a disgrace the Li Family in Linggui City is, willing to bow down as slaves? Even a minor Condensed Essence Stage demon cultivator can give you orders? Is this what the Dalong salt merchant family has come to?”

As soon as the words fell, light and shadow flickered, and over sixty practitioners appeared.

Yang Jueyu and Quan Juecheng stood among them, with Mo Xinghe and Bai Yulian also advancing in the group. The remaining disciples of the Jade Symbol Sect, aside from a few like Lian Luosha and Gao Yuhu, were nearly all present.

At the back of the team, a towering figure approached, wielding a Golden Silk Ring Knife. With each step he took, dust swirled up from the ground, and a terrifying aura spread outward like an overwhelming force.

Before Hongmo Zheng Lin could yell, the blue giant snake stationed at the entrance of the Purple Fortress let out a roar, sensing the threat, and turned to flee into the fortress.

“Hmm? The remnant soul has retreated.” Hongmo Zhengfang and Qian Qiu Yue rejoiced, quickly leaping into the fortress and speeding downwards, skillfully navigating through numerous perilous areas while following the path left by the blue snake.

At this moment, the disciples of the Jade Symbol Sect had already stepped onto the stone bridge. Yang Jueyu scanned the array maps on both sides of the bridge, then turned to look at the man with the Golden Silk Ring Knife.

“What’s wrong, disciple?” If Li Hui were present, he would be greatly surprised to hear Dugu Yi, the ninth true disciple of the Jade Symbol Sect, addressing Yang Jueyu as a disciple, and that Yang Jueyu seemed entirely unfazed by it.

“Master, should we use the Qian Kun Imprinting Talisman to imprint these array maps?”

Dugu Yi shook his head. “No need. The true disciples of the Hongmo Sect I have captured are currently leading an exploration of other Purple Fortresses, and they found the main array schematic to be missing. It doesn’t matter how many sub-array maps we imprint. Wan Nest Island likely comes from the two-yin sect proficient in formations from ancient legends, but we have to question and explore the use of this island. It’s too clean; capturing the recently escaped remnant soul of the All-Manifestation Realm might reveal the answers.”

“Are you disciples of the Jade Symbol Sect?” A Li Family practitioner recognized Yang Jueyu.

“Quiet…” Quan Juecheng raised his hand and released three dazzling orbs of light, forcing back the blocking practitioners as he walked forward with an air of arrogance, disregarding everyone present.

“Do the small sects of coastal nations dare to run rampant?” Hongmo Zheng Lin could not hold back any longer and suddenly attacked; the Black Fortress unleashed thick light pillars, roaring toward the Jade Symbol Sect disciples.

Dugu Yi glanced back and casually waved his Golden Silk Ring Knife.

“Snap…” All the light pillars shattered and dispersed into flames.

The Black Fortress trembled, splitting open a knife wound a hundred zhang long, scaring Hongmo Zheng Lin into using the Slave Seal to escape by the skin of his teeth. He was filled with a deep terror, silently shouting: “Who is this practitioner wielding the Golden Silk Ring Knife? A single strike cannot be measured by reason. I must hurry to find my brother; he is leading the Li Family’s Bosa stage practitioners. When I return, I will take my revenge!”

Dugu Yi scanned the surroundings and asked, “Where are the Bosa stage practitioners of the Li Family? Allowing younger generations to team up with demon cultivators for a disgraceful scene, next they will require my guidance, or else…”

His gaze swept across with chilling intent, and several nearby Li Family practitioners couldn’t hold their legs steady, kneeling on the ground with expressions of fear and disbelief.

“Clear the way ahead.” Yang Jueyu’s eyes were cold as he commanded the Li Family practitioners.

Meanwhile, Qian Qiu Yue and Hongmo Zhengfang had descended to the sixth level of the Purple Fortress when they suddenly heard, “Senior Sister Yue, wait a moment.”

Li Hui approached slowly, with Chef Zhao and Huo Qiniang flanking him.

Hongmo Zhengfang froze and scoffed, “Hmph, how did this brat enter the Purple Fortress alive? He has quite the luck. Clarify for me: with the Remnant Soul of the All-Manifestation Realm blocking the entrance, how did you get in with two others?”

“You mean that blue snake? I accidentally released it; it was thanks to the substitute you refined for me that I barely escaped with my life.”

“What? You were the one who released it?” Hongmo Zhengfang was almost enraged to the point of spitting blood. If it weren’t for the remnant soul blocking the way, would he have had to fight so desperately? Several times he had nearly danced between life and death, all due to this kid.

Li Hui smiled and said, “If you want Purple Essence Divine Water, you better be quiet; otherwise, I will ruin your opportunity for advancement!”

“You, you…” Hongmo Zhengfang stammered for a moment, finally asking, “Did you enter the Underground Cavern? Even if I knew the route, it’d be difficult to descend.”

“The Underground Cavern is on the Twelfth Layer. In addition to Purple Essence Divine Water, I found mushroom roots, Soul Nourishing Water, pureblood spiritual ears, and Ghost Gel.”

Hongmo Zhengfang’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Ghost Gel? You little brat, that was left for me by the old man! Are you my nemesis? Why must you always cut me off?”

“Sorry, but the Ghost Gel was eaten by the Yin-Yang Nine Heads,” Li Hui feigned innocence and was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed.

Hongmo Zhengfang and Qian Qiu Yue’s expressions shifted simultaneously, and they flew forward to escape by the skin of their teeth. The spot where they had just stood was covered in black frost, and a thirty-foot-long blue snake flicked its tongue, fixated on their fleeing figures.

Li Hui moved rapidly with Chef Zhao and Huo Qiniang. Hongmo Zhengfang yelled furiously, “Damn it! That cursed Remnant Soul of the All-Manifestation Realm is using secret techniques to devour the souls of Condensed Essence Stage practitioners to strengthen itself, becoming more cunning!”

Qian Qiu Yue said while moving, “Junior Brother, since you found the Soul Nourishing Water, toss some behind us; perhaps we can shake off the blue snake.”

“Understood!” Li Hui threw out a ceramic jar, smashing it to the ground with a loud crash. The jar shattered, spilling out a lot of sticky, red mushrooms that were the size of a baby’s fist.

“Woohoo…” The blue snake slithered closer, letting out an eerie cry as it gulped down the mushroom roots, with the Soul Nourishing Water mixed in, making its eyes grow brighter.

After tossing out five jars, they finally shook off the blue snake’s pursuit.

The toll weighed heavily on Li Hui’s heart, but worse was yet to come. The embroidered ball transmitted an urgent message: “Not good, he’s coming—the leader of the Jade Symbol Sect.”